Friday, August 1, 2008

My Girls

It's National Girlfriends Day (I know, who comes up with these things?). A girl's girlfriends are important people in her life. They're the ones who go shopping with you and tell you the truth about how it looks. They'll laugh with you, cry with you and bury the bastards that made you cry in the first place. They know without words what you need when things are tough. They support you in life no matter what. So here's to all the girlfriends in the world and seven in particular (in alphabetical order because I couldn't bear to think of any other way to list them)...

I met Jennifer during graduate school in Boston. We had a class together and she got me a job at Starbucks. The only person that can call me Rebecca in casual conversation, Jennifer moved back to Portland after we graduated (and I moved back to Texas). Despite the distance, we've remained close talking often and sharing life's little bumps and dips. So much so that I'm going to be a bridesmaid in her wedding in October.

Katie

Katie was one of the first friends I made in grad school. She got me addicted to the Red Sox. The two of us (and our friend Mike) were practically inseparable for a time. When she hated her job, I would talk with her everyday and provide an ear for her to vent to. When my grandmother passed away while I was in Boston, she drove into the city after it snowed just to sit with me (she got a ticket that night but never complained about it). We've embarrassed ourselves together singing karaoke, getting drunk and singing at the top of our lungs at piano bars. I wouldn't trade any of that and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Laura

Ten years ago, I probably wouldn't have included my sister Laura on this list. But 10 years ago, Laura and I fought all the time. It got so bad that at one point my dad promised if we didn't stop he'd take away all our clothes and he would pick out what we wore for a time. And it wouldn't necessarily be different two days in a row. Needless to say we got a lot quieter after that. But now that we're older (and sometimes more mature), we're a lot closer and I'm so grateful to be able to count my little sister among my closest girlfriends.

Laurel

Laurel and I met when I worked at Starbucks in Boston. We bonded over Texas (I was from there and she lived in Austin for 2 years). We started going to Parish after we would close on Friday nights and she convinced me to get my beer card. From which I earned my awesome 25 ounce stein that says "Don't Mess with Texas". One day a bartender from Rattlesnake came in. I was concentrating on the drink I was making and must have had my tongue sticking out because he commented on how long my tongue was. The guy was kinda creepy and whenever he would come in after that I would hide below the counter. Laurel happened to overhear his comment and always managed to be in the store when I was hiding from him. She continues to tease me about it to this day.

Lin

Lin is my sanctuary during the day when things are crazy. She's my sounding board off which I bounce off a lot of ideas or things that don't sound right. During my Capstone class my last semester at Emerson, when I would get stressed, I would call Lin, who was in LA at the time, and she would let me vent. Lin is an incredible person and my life has been broadened just by knowing her.

Michele and I met kind of randomly last fall at a PRSA seminar. We happened to sit at the same table over lunch and got to talking. Somehow it came up that I went to grad school in Boston. Michele's boyfriend was living in Boston and she was going to visit (and interview, I learned later). So she pumped me for places to visit. Despite our different preferences in undergrad schools (She's a Red Raider, I know but I forgive her this fault ;-), we discovered we had a lot in common and formed a fast friendship. In fact a girl from her firm who happened to be at the same table called us BFFs, which we still laugh over. Sad thing is that she left me shortly after we met for Boston and her boyfriend. I guess if anyone can understand the draw of Boston, it's me.

Stephanie

Steph is my oldest friend. I don't even remember the first time we met it's been so long. We had English class together every year from 7th grade through senior year of high school. At 8th grade graduation, we wore the same dress, on accident. If anyone has embarrassing dirt on me, it's Steph. Summer after high school, I had gotten myself into a friends with benefits situation with an ex-boyfriend I was still in love with. One night things weren't going well and I called Steph crying. She came over to my house in the middle of the night to sit with me and just be supportive. We share a love of shoes and bags and often send each other links to pairs we think the other would like. We also would send each other links of boys we think the other would like. Currently, she lives in LA and when she moved, I thought she would never move back to Texas. So when she told me she couldn't wait to move home, I was elated. And now I'm counting down the days until she's back.

So thanks ladies, friends, sisters... for being there and for being the best girlfriends I could ever hope to have.

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About Me

This blog is my place to write about my life. Sometimes it's good. Sometimes it's not so good. This blog is my catharsis.
I got the nickname Becky Mochaface while working at Starbucks. During one particularly hellish shift working the cold bev station, I was making a mocha frappuccino and when I pumped the mocha syrup into the pitcher of ice it bounced back up and hit me in the face. Being busy I didn't have time to wipe it off until the end of my shift. My fellow partners thought it was hilarious and started calling me Becky Mochaface. It stuck and I've grown partial to it.